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Original painted Christmas scene, from the Cine Claus illustration set

Not really, no · 2015

Carol

15/100Festive FactorWhy it scores 15 ↓
UK certificate 15118 min
Romance · Drama

Carol is a Christmas film mostly in its opening.

On STUDIOCANAL Presents on Apple TV · extra subscription →
Plan this film night ↓Can the kids watch? ↓
Explore this film 10 sections

The CineClaus Christmas score

Festive Factor

A different kind of Christmas.

Original painted Christmas scene, from the Cine Claus illustration set

A little magic in the making.

Five ingredients make the Festive Factor.
Open an ingredient to find out more.

Christmas in the storyChristmas is only the occasion.10/30

What we ask: Take Christmas out. Does the plot survive? Worth up to 30 of the 100 points.

A world dressed for ChristmasVisibly Christmas for a scene or two.0/20

What we ask: How much of the running time is visibly Christmas? Worth up to 20 of the 100 points.

The little seasonal details1 of the 10 kinds of Christmas icon we count turn up on screen.2/15

What we ask: How many kinds of Christmas icon turn up on screen: trees, lights, snow, carols and the rest? Worth up to 15 of the 100 points.

A Christmas heartHow far the ending rests on goodwill, family and belief: not at all.0/20

What we ask: Does the ending depend on what Christmas means: goodwill, family, redemption, belief? Worth up to 20 of the 100 points.

A returning traditionNiche at Christmas (under 25,000).3/15

What we ask: Is it actually watched at Christmas in the UK? Worth up to 15 of the 100 points.

47/100

Cosiness Rating Rating

Mixed in tone. Moderate threat. A bittersweet ending.

How we score →
What do these scores mean?

Festive Factor measures how Christmassy a film is. Five ingredients add up to 100: story (30), setting (20), seasonal details (15), emotional heart (20) and returning tradition (15).

Cosiness is a separate score for warmth of tone, sense of safety, visual comfort, a reassuring ending and how easily you can settle into it.

How the Festive Factor works →
Your next film night

Where to watch

United KingdomChecked

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Carol · Rental and purchase cost extra, separately from membership.

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Streaming changes constantly and we cannot promise it is still right - check the service before you settle in. Streaming availability information provided by Streaming Availability API by Movie of the Night (opens in a new tab).

The story

About Carol

In 1950s Manhattan, a young woman working the toy counter of a department store in the weeks before Christmas serves an elegant older customer who is buying a gift for her daughter. A forgotten pair of gloves brings them together again. The older woman is in the middle of a painful divorce, and as the friendship turns to love the two set out on a road trip west, with her husband's lawyers and a private investigator closing in. Todd Haynes directs Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, from the novel by Patricia Highsmith.

The CineClaus verdict

Carol is a Christmas film mostly in its opening.

The festive season brings two strangers together across a department store counter, then steps back while a love story and a custody fight take over. It is slow, beautifully made and sad in places, with an ending that hopes rather than promises.

We score it low for festivity and it earns that, but as an adult drama to watch over the holidays it is patient and very well acted.

The family desk

Can the kids watch?

15

Our take: not for children: it is rated 15 for a strong love scene with nudity, two uses of strong language and a brief gun threat.

Content advice & accessibility
Our age guidance
Editorial, separate from the official 15 certificate, and never looser than it.
Subtitles
Check your chosen service and edition for supported tracks.
The people behind the film

Cast and crew

The faces in front of the camera, and the people who brought the story to life.

Main cast

In billing order
Cate Blanchettas Carol Aird
Rooney Maraas Therese Belivet
Kyle Chandler
Sarah Paulsonas Abby Gerhard
Jake Lacy smiling in a navy blazer, pale blue shirt and grey waistcoat in front of a white backdrop.Jake Lacyas Richard
John Magaroas Dannie
Cory Michael Smith

Behind the camera

Directed by
Todd Haynes
Original score
Carter Burwell
Writing & production credits
Writer
Phyllis Nagy
Photo credits

Portraits via Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence, approved for this page by a person. Sources and full photographer credits:

Jake Lacy · Greg Hernandez · Source image (opens in a new tab) · CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab).

Keep the Christmas feeling

Music & soundtrack

That tune you recognised. That score you loved. Take a little of the film into the rest of your Christmas.

The original score album, track by track.

Behind the music. Carter Burwell composed the score.

About this music list

These are the songs and soundtrack we hold for the film, not a complete cue sheet, and they give no scene timings. Album track lists and durations come from MusicBrainz. Spotify and Apple Music links open the matched recordings; links marked Search open a search on that service.

musicbrainz.org ↗ (opens in a new tab) wikidata.org ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Step into the story

Filming locations

The real places behind Carol. Choose one to explore.

Find it on the mapCincinnati, Ohio

© OpenStreetMap contributors (opens in a new tab)

Open larger map ↗ (OpenStreetMap, opens in a new tab)

Map shows the selected place. Drag to explore; use + and − to zoom.

Choose your next scene

2 places from Carol

There’s more behind the film.
Explore the next place.

Location sources

Cincinnati, Ohio · thelocationguide.com (opens in a new tab)

Eden Park, Cincinnati · wcpo.com (opens in a new tab)

Map pins mark the place, not a camera position or a route. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), including any pin positions read from OpenStreetMap.

A little more Carol

Film facts &
behind the scenes

For the fans who stay after the credits.

Movie magic

Shot on grainy Super 16mm to mimic slide film

Cinematographer Ed Lachman chose Super 16mm because he wanted the picture to resemble Ektachrome, the colour slide stock used by photojournalists of the period. He felt 35mm now looks almost digital, and the 16mm grain gave the film a tactile, emotional texture. The format had been tested on an earlier Todd Haynes project.

Read the story
On your next watchLook for the visible grain in the darker rooms and the soft, slightly smeared edges of city lights.

Source: fdtimes.com ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Movie magic

The look came from street photographers, not old movies

Rather than copying melodramas or noir, the filmmakers studied documentary photographers such as Helen Levitt, Ruth Orkin, Esther Bubley and Vivian Maier. The cool, drab winter palette also drew on Saul Leiter's colour work, with coral tones held back as an accent against the greys.

Read the story

Source: fdtimes.com ↗ (opens in a new tab) · theglobeandmail.com ↗ (opens in a new tab)

On set

Therese becomes a photographer on screen

In Patricia Highsmith's novel Therese works as a set designer. For the film she becomes a photographer, a change Lachman says puts the story's viewpoint front and centre, since so much is seen through her eyes.

Read the story

Source: fdtimes.com ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Movie magic

Costumes built from feel, not from the novel's descriptions

Costume designer Sandy Powell took texture and a sense of luxury from the book rather than literal clothing details. Carol's short blond mink coat was chosen to look opulent without swamping her, and everyday shoppers' outfits were loosely based on Sears catalogues. One detail that did carry over is the red harlequin glasses worn in the toy department.

Read the story

Source: theglobeandmail.com ↗ (opens in a new tab)

And at a glance

Releases and certificates
: Premiere (France). World premiere in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.
: In cinemas, rated 15. UK cinema release through Studiocanal.
Awards
Nominated: Academy Awards 2016, Actress in a Leading Role (Cate Blanchett).
Nominated: Academy Awards 2016, Actress in a Supporting Role (Rooney Mara).
Nominated: Academy Awards 2016, Cinematography.
Nominated: Academy Awards 2016, Costume Design.
Nominated: Academy Awards 2016, Music (Original Score) (Carter Burwell).
Nominated: Academy Awards 2016, Writing (Adapted Screenplay) (Phyllis Nagy).
Sources & a note on these facts

Each production story is linked to its source, in our own words. Ending details stay behind a spoiler reveal.

Good to know

Questions about Carol

Who directed Carol?

Todd Haynes directed Carol, from a screenplay by Phyllis Nagy adapted from Patricia Highsmith's novel. Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara lead the cast.

When was Carol released in UK cinemas?

Carol opened in UK cinemas on 27 November 2015, distributed by Studiocanal, after premiering at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2015.

Who composed the music for Carol?

Carter Burwell wrote the score, which was nominated for an Academy Award. His soundtrack album runs to 25 tracks.

Where was Carol filmed?

Carol was shot in and around Cincinnati, Ohio, which stood in for early 1950s New York. The production used around 50 sites in the area.

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Carol is in this collection

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Stay for another story.All collections · The Christmas Edit